Podcasts about Breakpoint

In November of 1928, A.W. Tozer accepted a pastoral position at the Southside Alliance Church in Chicago, a move that launched a ministry career that would eventually impact thousands. A central theme of Tozer's work was recovering a sense of the holiness of God. In his book The Knowledge of the Holy, Tozer wrote,  The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us. A whole new philosophy of the Christian life has resulted from this one basic error in our religious thinking.   Tozer's best-known quote is a fundamental premise of a truly Christian worldview: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  Years ago, Chuck Colson urged his friend, author and speaker Ken Boa, to write condensed, accessible introductions to the greatest works of literature and theology. Boa, one of the finest Christian thinkers of our generation, accepted the challenge.   In a Breakpoint commentary, Chuck commented on A.W. Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy, and Dr. Ken Boa's introduction:  Dr. Ken Boa speaks of A.W. Tozer as a man who “understood the ways of God.” That understanding is amply demonstrated in Tozer's classic book The Knowledge of the Holy.   “This is really a meditative and a devotional approach to the attributes of God,” Boa says. Those include more attributes than we're used to thinking about all at once. For instance, Tozer discusses God's omniscience and omnipotence as well as His love and mercy. But Tozer doesn't just show us the reality of those attributes; he also shows how they work together to form a harmonious whole. They are not contradictory, but complementary.   But our view of God, Tozer argues, is often “distorted” or “diminished” because we have embraced the prevailing mindset of our culture and imposed that mindset upon Scripture. So, we find ourselves unable even to begin to comprehend concepts like His holiness, power, and majesty. (Keep in mind, by the way, that Tozer wrote this nearly 50 years ago. The man wasn't called a prophet for nothing.)  Tozer's desire was to expand our vision and thus our capacity to worship God rightly. If we fail to do this, Boa says, that's when our understanding of God becomes distorted, and we move away from Him. “Imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God,” Tozer believed, are responsible for all our errors in doctrine and in faith. Thus, he defines idolatry as “assuming that God is other than He is.”   When you look at it that way, you can see just how widespread idolatry has become in our day and how much havoc it has created within the Church. Boa connects this kind of thinking to the modern prosperity gospel, which tends to turn our prayers into “strategy sessions” rather than true communication with God. Paradoxically, Tozer acknowledges the “incomprehensibility” of God, even as he is helping us to better understand His attributes. When we draw closer to God, you see, we begin to understand just how much greater He is than anything we can grasp.   Our instinct is to make God into something “manageable” and “controllable.” That was the sin of the Garden—to be like God. But if you could do that, you wouldn't need Him. So instead of trying to manage or control God, we must surrender ourselves and place our trust in Him even though we can't fully understand Him. And when we do this, we are not groping in the dark, for as Tozer tells us, “[God] in condescending love has by revelation declared certain things to be true of Himself. These we call His attributes.” He has provided enough knowledge of these, Tozer says, “to satisfy our intellects and ravish our hearts.”   For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

The guys get together to discuss the results of the World tour finals and the WTA nominees. Rumors about the Breakpoint series as well! Federer cries on stage

Revisionist attempts to reinterpret the first Thanksgiving have muddled the history of Plymouth Colony and the Pilgrims. Some on the right call the historical events a “triumph of capitalism,” getting the chronology of events wrong. Voices on the left often accuse Thanksgiving of being a celebration of genocide against the Native Americans, citing the Mystic Massacre in the Pequot War, ignoring the context of that event, not least of which that it occurred 16 years after the celebration in Plymouth. Neither of these narratives accurately represents what actually occurred in Plymouth in the fall of 1621.  The Pilgrims were English Separatists who believed congregations should be independent, voluntary democratic institutions rather than part of the Church of England. In 1607 and 1608, they left England for the more tolerant Dutch Republic.  Life in the Netherlands, however, proved difficult. Some ran out of money and returned to England. Without further immigration from England, the congregation was in danger of collapsing. The Pilgrims were also unhappy with the libertinism of Dutch culture and worried that their children would grow up more Dutch than English.  After much discussion, they decided to try to establish a colony where they could worship and raise their families as they saw fit, and where they could spread the Gospel. In 1619, they received a patent to establish a colony in New England, north of the Virginia colony. In September of 1620, the Pilgrims, with other colonists, set sail on the Mayflower with 102 passengers, only 28 of whom were members of the congregation.   The Pilgrims debated whether it was safe to bring their wives. Most decided to do so, which accounts for the 13 adult women on board, three in their third trimester. There were also some younger women and children who joined the voyage. A baby who was born at sea was named Oceanus.  The Mayflower arrived in America in November after a difficult journey. A landing party sent to explore the land found artificial mounds that they excavated and discovered to be burial sites. In some, they found corn, which they took for planting before reburying the remains. They also found corn and beans in empty Native American homes, some of which they also took and paid for six months later when they met the owners.  Earlier English expeditions to the region had captured Native Americans and sold them as slaves or slaughtered them on their ships. Perhaps for this reason or because of the desecration of the graves, a Pilgrim landing party was attacked in December, though the colonists drove off the attackers.  Later that month, they found harbor at a place that was labeled “Plymouth” on their charts. They decided to winter there. The men went ashore to build houses, the first of which was used as a hospital. By the time spring came, only 47 of the colonists were still alive, and only 5 of the married women. Another would die in May of a broken heart after her husband died.  The Plymouth Colony only survived because of help from the Native Americans. The first contact came from Samoset, a minor chief from Maine who had learned English from fishermen who had set up a camp near his tribe. He then introduced them to Tisquantum, better known as Squanto. Squanto had been enslaved by English raiders but eventually was freed, became a Christian, and returned to his homeland. Unfortunately, his tribe, the Patuxets, were wiped out by an epidemic.  Squanto acted as both a translator and a mediator between the Pilgrims and Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoag tribe. Massasoit established friendly relations with the Pilgrims and, with Squanto, taught them how to farm the “Three Sisters”—corn, beans, and squash. With their help, the remaining Pilgrims survived and had a successful harvest that fall.  The Pilgrims decided to hold a harvest festival, probably around Michaelmas (September 29) 1621, which was a traditional date for such celebrations in England. Massasoit and members of his tribe joined them. In all, there were about 50 English and 90 Wampanoags. The four surviving wives, together with children and servants, prepared and served food over the three-day celebration.  Although much European contact with Native Americans featured disease, genocide, prejudice, and abuse, that was not the case with the Pilgrims. Rather than falsely maligning that first Thanksgiving, we should look at it as a model of how things should have been and by God's grace one day will be.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Dr. Glenn Sunshine. Listen to his interview with the Strong Women podcasters about the women of Plymouth or hear how Thanksgiving was declared a holiday. If you're a fan of Breakpoint, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to colsoncenter.org.   This Breakpoint was originally published on 11.24.2022. 

According to modern retellings, the American story is one long tale of violence and oppression, with founders who should be universally condemned as hypocrites, thieves, and racists. Of course, our nation's history is, like all nations, about sinful and flawed people. However, in our modern attempts to deconstruct the past, it's easy to miss how remarkable the American experiment was.  In a Breakpoint commentary years ago, Chuck Colson described one especially significant part of our nation's history, the Mayflower Compact. Here's Chuck Colson.  In just a few weeks, Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday that people of all faiths observe. But between stuffing the turkey and watching football, we ought to make sure our children and grandchildren understand the Christian roots of this holiday, which are often downplayed in school. The first step is to brush up on the details ourselves.   On September 6, 1620, the Mayflower set sail from England. Ten perilous weeks later, the Pilgrims arrived on the northern tip of Cape Cod. As my friend Barbara Rainey writes in her excellent book, Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember, “This was about sixty miles north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River.” Should they sail south, or stay put?   After much discussion and prayer, they decided to stay. But when the passengers learned of this, dissension broke out. The Pilgrims had a charter with a company that was effective only at the original landing site. As Rainey writes, “The bonded servants on board [who were not Pilgrims] argued that [the decision to stay] changed the terms of their work agreement.” The Pilgrims were afraid that these men would declare their independence and deplete the labor supply. Something had to be done to restore unity.   As the Mayflower's captain worked his way around the Cape, searching for a place to drop anchor, an intense debate ensued. By nightfall, the leaders had drafted an agreement, called the Mayflower Compact. Among its key clauses were these words: “Having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith … a voyage to plant the First Colony … [we] solemnly … in the presence of God and of one another, Covenant … ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic.”   As Rainey writes, the compact was a hedge against revolt, but it meant much more. The Pilgrims took it seriously; their Bible told them just how significant covenants were. In the Old Testament, God created covenants between Himself and His people, the Israelites. In the New Testament, God covenants with all who choose to follow Him through the life, sacrificial death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   As Rainey writes, the Pilgrims “journeyed to this new land to proclaim by their lives this message of redemption, the New Covenant, and the light of Christ. This covenant that God established with His people became their model for the Mayflower Compact as well as for the peace treaty they established with Massasoit and his people. They knew a God who keeps His word, and therefore they were faithful to keep their word, their promises to one another and to others.”  The Mayflower Compact became one of the most important documents in American history—and yet, its religious language may make some teachers reluctant to teach it. But that same language reveals the lengths to which the Pilgrims were willing to go to follow the Lord.  Ten years later and 40 miles to the north, John Winthrop would expound on the idea of covenant in his famous sermon, “A Model of Christian Charity.”   For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.  “City on a hill” is among the least understood phrases in American history. Winthrop was not encouraging arrogance or claiming invincibility with this idea. Rather, he was issuing a warning. Whether in Winthrop's speech to the Massachusetts Bay colonists or the Plymouth Colony's Mayflower Compact, these men and women saw what they were doing through the deeply Christian lens of covenant.  This Thanksgiving, it's appropriate to thank God for our heritage, to remember the warnings of our nation's forebears, and to pray for renewal in the church and in our nation.   For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

In his book Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton observed that even insane explanations for the world can have a perverse consistency. A madman who thinks he's the king of England has a ready explanation for anyone who denies his claim: They're conspirators trying to keep him from his throne. “His mind,” wrote Chesterton, “moves in a perfect but narrow circle.”   Chesterton's asylum example also applies to a recent article published at Phys.org about a scientist who has written a book to convince everyone that humans don't have free will. Neuroendocrinologist and MacArthur “genius grant” winner Robert Sapolsky has studied people and primates for over 40 years. In his book Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will, Dr. Sapolsky argues that humans are molecular machines, wholly determined by our genes, our environments, and our past. Thus, our behavior, even when condemned as criminal or evil, is no more a choice than “the convulsions of a seizure, the division of cells or the beating of our hearts.”  Of course, the implications if this were true would be incredible. As a Los Angeles Times reporter memorably put it:   This means accepting that a man who shoots into a crowd has no more control over his fate than the victims who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It means treating drunk drivers who barrel into pedestrians just like drivers who suffer a sudden heart attack and veer out of their lane.  However, rather than justifying or enabling acts of violence, Sapolsky believes his deterministic view of human choices could actually make society better:   The world is really screwed up and made much, much more unfair by the fact that we reward people and punish people for things they have no control over. We've got no free will. Stop attributing stuff to us that isn't there.  Sapolsky's argument isn't new. It is, in fact, the standard, reductive version of metaphysical naturalism, which teaches that all phenomena have material causes. Since these causes are themselves materially caused, nature is a closed system of dominoes. In this theory, an observer with perfect knowledge of the initial conditions of the universe could accurately predict every event that followed, right down to the choices individuals make about what to eat, where to live, who to love, what to believe, and even whether to kill.  The problem, which philosophers and writers over the years have pointed out, is that if everything is determined and humans do not have a free will, that would include the belief in metaphysical naturalism and every part of the thought process that led to it. Assuming this view, the reason Sapolsky believes what he does has nothing to do with what he has learned in his research or whether it's true. Instead, it is the predetermined result of a long process of material causes stretching back to the Big Bang. His book, his arguments, and his belief that they'll somehow make the world a better place are not meaningful. They're just the latest dominoes to have fallen, and it could never have been otherwise.   In his book Miracles, C. S. Lewis critiqued this brand of reductive naturalism:   [N]o account of the universe can be true unless that account leaves it possible for our thinking to be a real insight. A theory which explained everything else in the whole universe but which made it impossible to believe that our thinking was valid, would be utterly out of court. For that theory would itself have been reached by thinking, and if thinking is not valid that theory would, of course, be itself demolished.  To his credit, Sapolsky seems aware of this absurdity but just accepts it: “It is logically indefensible, ludicrous, meaningless to believe that something ‘good' can happen to a machine,” he admits. “Nonetheless, I am certain that it is good if people feel less pain and more happiness.”  But why is it good for people to be happier or have less pain if everything is determined? Why is it preferable to live in a society marked by peace and safety, instead of chaos and violence? And why appeal to people to make a meaningful choice between these options when their choice is already determined and meaningless?    Chesterton's answer to such small, reductive worldviews was to confront them with the immensity of the real world and human experience, and to notice how they do more explaining away than explaining.   We know our choices are not mere results of physical processes, and that they have a deep moral significance. We know it so deeply that even those trying to convince us we're mere machines must contradict themselves by treating some choices, such as their choice to write books to convince readers, as if they mean something.   In the very act of denying our moral responsibility in a moral universe, we must, in some sense, act as if meaning exists. It's a crazy effort to deny meaning, but that doesn't stop even geniuses from trying it. All the more evidence of our profound freedom, and of our ability to abuse it.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Shane Morris. If you're a fan of Breakpoint, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

If Crypto Twitter can't provide a true reality of Solana, what is there left to do besides go to Breakpoint myself and get the vibes straight from the source?  Bankless Nation, here's everything I learned at Solana Breakpoint  -----

Austin Federa is Head of Strategy at the Solana Foundation. In this episode of The Scoop recorded live at Solana Breakpoint 2023, Federa unpacks some of Breakpoint's biggest announcements and explains how Solana builders persevered through the depths of the bear market to continue enhancing Solana's tech. According to Federa, Solana's recent performance enhancements have rectified many of the problems that plagued Solana's performance throughout the 2021 bull run.  "I think you saw a lot of 'thinkfluencers' tweeting 18 months ago that Solana's architecture was somehow fundamentally flawed and they could never get this thing stable because of 'original sins' in the code base — and like most most radical statements on Twitter, it turns out to really not be substantively true." This episode is brought to you by our sponsors PayPal. Make your crypto move with PayPal. Get started today at PayPal.com/crypto

Eliza Wastcoat is a digital strategist and tennis nerd who creates engaging stories on her Instagram account @itselizasworld. Everything from tournament news, player profiles, trends, and more. Time stamps 00:00 Intro 00:30 Getting into tennis later in life 06:29 How can tennis attract more people? 11:00 Bringing out tennis personalities and tennis etiquette 29:00 Breakpoint, good or bad? 40:15 Eliza as a commentator? 43:25 The Ultimate Tennis Showdown 52:14 Eliza's tennis goals 54:05 Does doubles deserve more love? 59:32 Growing up in a sports fan household 1:02:54 From UK to LA 1:12:11 Dealing with Besserwissers on social media 1:22:20 Is the angle the issue?

John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He's a sought-after author and speaker in areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education, and apologetics. John is the daily voice of Breakpoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture, founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of The Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics, and cultural issues.  This week on the show, I'm honored to be joined by John to dive into a thought-provoking discussion about the intersection of faith, popular culture, and the power of transforming lives. John shares how he initially crossed paths with the visionary founder of Prison Fellowship, Chuck Colson, whose faith inspired John's work today at the Colson Center, applying Christian principles to every facet of life. We also examine the four relationships that shape our understanding of identity, the importance of teaching children to look outward, not inward, and the troubling correlation between the growing mental health crisis among young people and the influence of social media. “Faith gives you a framework for understanding what's happening in the world.” - John Stonestreet “Parenting never happens in a vacuum. It happens in a cultural moment.” - John Stonestreet “A Christian worldview turns you outward and upward.” -  John Stonestreet This Week on The Wow Factor: How John initially connected with Prison Fellowship founder Chuck Colson, whose faith inspired him to see prisoners as valuable individuals John's personal view of his faith as something that communicates the truth about our reality How Chuck's legacy led to bipartisan agreement on criminal justice reform as a way to address community breakdown and trust issues How the Colson Center continues Chuck's work of applying Christian principles to all aspects of life, including government, culture, and personal transformation Why the Breakpoint podcasts are different from traditional Christian programming Why so many damaging ideas are rooted into culture right now The four relationships that impact our understanding of who we are  The importance of teaching children to look outward, not inward, to find their purpose Why there is a direct correlation between the growing mental health crisis among young people and social media John Stonestreet's Words of Wisdom: Hope is out there; the universe has hope because Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. So have hope, not only in what you say but in how you live. Tell your kids that they're made in the image of God, and then order your homes so that they're turned outward and upward instead of inward. Connect with John Stonestreet:  Breakpoint Podcasts John Stonestreet - Breakpoint  Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today's World by John Stonestreet Connect with The WOW Factor: The WOW Factor Website Connect with Brad Formsma via email Brad Formsma on LinkedIn Brad Formsma on Instagram Brad Formsma on Facebook Brad Formsma on Twitter

David sits down in person at Solana Breakpoint 2023 with Solana's Founder, Anatoly Yakovenko, and Austin Federa, Solana Foundation's Head of Strategy.  The three chat about Breakpoint's Evolution, Solana vs. Ethereum, and exciting new releases/products coming out of Solana. 

Speaking at the recently finished Cardano Summit 2023 in Dubai, Hoskinson provided a fascinating overview of the history of Cardano and a forward-looking look at the novel technologies and community governance that will be a part of the Cardano ecosystem.00:00 intro00:25 Cardano in Dubai00:58 $ADA Explodes01:14 Last 7 Years02:08 Hydra a Failure?04:48 Cardano Governance05:52 Cardano Lacks Collabs06:37 Cardano Community is Fed Up07:51 Interoperability Update09:32 Cheap Whiteboard09:49 Midnight Reveal11:25 Stablecoin Coming12:26 Wyoming Stablecoin12:56 Dubai Citizen Tracker14:19 Cardano Ecosystem Updates16:56 Nothing Memorable17:21 Charles Fired From Ethereum18:11 Steve Jobs on Cardano19:17 Crypto A Players19:55 outro#Cardano #crypto #ethereum ~Cardano Summit Was Embarrassing

We're thrilled to welcome Ollie Ollerton, a UK Special Forces Operative, bestselling author, and the charismatic star of television series 'SAS: Who Dares Wins'. Ollie is also the brains behind Breakpoint, a venture that thrives on empowering individuals with mental strategies that push human potential. This fascinating conversation traverses Ollie's impressive journey from the rough terrains of battlefields straight to the intricate labyrinths of boardrooms. He shares how alcohol abstinence was a major turning point in his transformation and how he has been inspiring others ever since. Drawing from his experiences and mental resilience, Ollie shares the power of visualisation and its massive impact on subconscious thinking. He delves into details about how he altered his mindset and behaviour in just three months through visualisation. Furthermore, he explains the significance of addressing the root issue when it comes to habits like drinking and how the concept of repetition plays into subconscious programming. Ollie discusses the importance of understanding your desires and discloses three key ways to change the subconscious mind. Finally, he shares his Dry Jan initiative and how it can serve as a doorway to open up a world of new possibilities. Tune in to gain an insightful perspective on staying motivated and understanding the power of control over one's narrative. You can join Ollie Ollerton and the BreakPoint team in partnership with Alcohol change for the Dry January 10K, happening on the 28th of January 2024, at Pippingford Park in Nutley, Uckfield. This Dry January, it's not just about the individual challenge... It's about community and support! You can't miss this empowering event, sign up now and learn more at https://www.dryjanuary10k.org/. Learn more about our guest Ollie Ollerton here: Website: https://break-point.co.uk/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollie.ollerton/  Learn more about OYNB and how it could help change your relationship with alcohol - https://go.oneyearnobeer.com/complete-control-program/?el=podcast  If you are ready to take a challenge and join our alcohol-free community, you can test it for 28, 90 or 365 days through one of our programmes: https://go.oneyearnobeer.com/challenges-uk/?el=podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On our day 4 recap of Solana Breakpoint 2023 event, we're focusing on DePIN announcements.00:00 intro00:07 DePINs00:29 Helium Network01:43 Helium on Solana02:52 Helium Mobile $503:53 Teleport vs Uber05:48 Uber Robbing Users06:05 Hivemapper06:29 Render Network07:06 The Sphere07:55 Apple Vision Pro09:08 $RENDER on Solana10:06 Render AI vs Gold & Bitcoin 11:45 Render Platform Launch12:56 Helium Sensors14:31 Tokenized Asset Sensors16:17 MASSIVE Retail Effects18:29 Paul is Mindblown20:22 outro#AI #Solana #Crypto~Render vs Gold

In a viral post back in July, entrepreneur Robert Sterling described what many people feel:   "There is something deeply unwell in our society right now. … I'm sure social media, economic malaise, Covid lockdowns, fentanyl, and every other reason we hear about factor into it."  Yet, all these reasons, he continued, “in aggregate, still feel insufficient.” Something “metaphysical,” seems to have shifted.   A Breakpoint commentary in April described the mental health crisis of American teens, especially teenage girls. As The New York Times reported, “Nearly three in five teenage girls felt persistent sadness in 2021 … and one in three girls seriously considered attempting suicide.” Boys aren't doing much better, with so-called “deaths of despair” at an all-time high among the male population.    This widespread mental instability has culturewide consequences. In a recent documentary, filmmaker Christopher Rufo diagnosed what he calls our “Cluster B Society.” The rise of “woke” ideology and cancel culture, he argued, corresponds with the explosion of psychopathologies like narcissism and borderline personality disorder.  These “disorders of the self,” Rufo explains, wreck relationships and lead to profound social dysfunction. When they become “formalized and entrenched” in “human resource departments, government policies, cultural institutions, and civil rights law,” they lead to precisely the kinds of extremism and emotional instability that infects politics today, especially among the young.    What is this “metaphysical shift,” this feature of modern society, that is driving so many people into despair?  Writing for the Institute for Family Studies, University of Virginia sociologist Joseph Davis argues that our mental health crisis is the end of a long process that began well before the iPhone, social media, or fentanyl. The seeds of despair and derangement, he thinks, were sown when people stopped looking to timeless institutions and transcendent realities to give their lives meaning, and instead turned inward for answers.    Davis cites Jennifer Breheny Wallace, who in her book Never Enough notes that even successful and privileged young people often say they feel “utterly vacant inside.” The reason they are looking inward for meaning is because they've been taught for decades now, by everyone from Disney and Oprah to pop stars and professors, to reject external sources of meaning like God, family, or country. “Their truth” is found within, while external sources of authority are oppressive and stifle authentic individuality.    As a result, Davis argues, “the public frameworks that gave life direction and meaning—prescribed roles, rites of passage, compelling life scripts, stable occupational trajectories—continue to fade away.”  That's why, as he puts it,  "We feel empty, inadequate, and adrift because we have been thrown back on ourselves, forced to face the challenge—at younger and younger ages—of trying to establish an identity, make commitments, live with conviction, desire life, and find meaning without the very sources that make these things possible in the first place."  As theologian Carl Trueman demonstrated in his book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, the idea that life's greatest meaning comes from within and from there we express our authentic identity is a recent development. Our ancestors looked beyond self, to external sources of authority. In our culture of expressive individualists, many people are finding themselves, to paraphrase Friedrich Nietzsche, unchained from a sun.    Writing of the death of God in his famous Parable of the Madman, Nietzsche accurately predicted the chaos to come but also noted that people in his day could not realize the implications of doing away with fixed, transcendent meaning. “I have come too early,” says the Madman. “This tremendous event is still on its way, still wandering; it has not yet reached the ears of men.”   Perhaps today, in the ruins of the institutions, traditions, churches, families, and cultures once tied to belief in an unchanging God, Nietzsche's prophecy has come true. We are adrift with only ourselves as gods. If the statistics are accurate, more and more people are finding this intolerable.    We were never meant to invent meaning for ourselves. The demands of our hyper-individualistic society feel unbearable because they're unreasonable. We put the weight of defining the world on our shoulders, and it's heavier than we ever imagined. The self is not big enough to define the truth.   This means that solving our mental health crisis will take much more than cutbacks on social media or crackdowns on opioids (though these are good ideas). It will take a return to older, less individualistic sources of identity and a willingness to stop treating “be yourself” or “you do you” as some kind of profound wisdom.    This Breakpoint was co-authored by Shane Morris. To help us share Breakpoint with others, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.  

In this episode live from BP 2023, Austin sits down with Rune Christensen to discuss MakerDAO's Endgame plan. Rune outlines how the concept of subDAOs will fix the current problems faced by DAOs, why SVM architecture is best suited to carry out his Endgame vision, the toxicity of tribalism, and more. DISCLAIMERThe content herein is provided for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, options, futures, or other derivatives related to securities in any jurisdiction, nor should not be relied upon as advice to buy, sell or hold any of the foregoing. This content is intended to be general in nature and is not specific to you, the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional advisor.  Solana Foundation Foundation and its agents, advisors, council members, officers and employees (the “Foundation Parties”) make no representation or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of the information herein and expressly disclaims any and all liability that may be based on such information or any errors or omissions therein. The Foundation Parties shall have no liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to any person arising from or related to the content or any use of the information contained herein by you or any of your representatives. All opinions expressed herein are the speakers' own personal opinions and do not reflect the opinions of any entities.  

Solana is pumping and we've got all their top announcements from Breakpoint, Kyle breaks down the crypto markets, Unibot hack, RaribleX, the SBF trial has concluded and Elon and Joe Rogan discuss web3.

On this episode, we're recapping everything announced at Solana Breakpoint 2023 event surrounding NFT gaming. Big reveals from Star Atlas showcase SAGE Labs transactions alone made up about 15% of all activity on the Solana network. 00:00 intro00:21 Solana Breakpoint 202300:54 Star Atlas Updates01:58 Star Atlas Mobile App02:34 NFT Avatars03:19 Massive Multiplayer Test04:14 Gameshift Launches06:01 Neon EVM Ethereum x Solana07:41 BOLT On-Chain Gaming08:59 Star Atlas Transactions10:16 BuddyLink x Star Atlas12:41 SocialFi & IP Businesess14:12 Peter Moore Joins Solana15:39 Peter Moore on Disrupting Gaming18:11 DRiP Goes Mainstream19:12 Mark Cuban on NFTs20:29 $ATLAS Skyrockets21:08 outro#Solana #crypto #NFT~Solana Gaming Updates!

Mark Twain famously said that “History doesn't repeat itself, but it does often rhyme.” The new film, Golda, starring Helen Mirren, provides evidence of that maxim.   A surprise Arab attack is carried out on the nation of Israel in the first week of October. An embattled Israeli Prime Minister fights to secure American support. There are whispers of Russian involvement and atrocities in Ukraine. Golda is not a film about 2023, but it does recall the remarkably similar story of 1973.  In fact, the history of Israel and the wider story of the millennia-long persecution of Jews can feel somewhat like a broken record. No matter the era, no matter the region, no matter the culture, Jacob's children find themselves in the crosshairs of their neighbors' hatred.  In the 5th-century BC, the royal advisor Haman whined to his king: There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them.  Haman was, of course, speaking of the Jewish people.  Jewish historian Josephus described the tensions that simmered between Jews and Greeks in Egypt since the 4th century. Conflict erupted in his day into riots that, before the slaughter stopped, left some 50,000 Jews dead. In a remark that could be taken from today's headlines, the historian declared,   Some were caught in the open field, others forced into their houses, which were plundered and then set on fire. The Romans showed no mercy to the infants, had no regard for the aged, and went on in the slaughter of persons of every age.  Over the next few hundred years, this antisemitism was, with some notable exceptions, sadly baptized by an emerging Christian culture. Some of this can be attributed to an accommodation to the cultural norms, some to seeking revenge for earlier Jewish persecutions of Christians, and some to significant theological issues that continue to affect Jewish-Christian relations even today.  In a tragic replaying of the persecution inflicted on the Early Church by Roman pagans, Christians scapegoated Jews for bad harvests, plagues, and political misfortune. Across Europe, especially Russian-controlled areas, pogroms were unleashed against victims with nowhere to go, at least until the rise of America and Israel.  Attacks against the Jews only increased with the evolving of a more secularized, modern age. Ancient prejudices took on modern forms, fed by conspiracy theories held across various segments of society. Jews were thought to be both in absolute control of world events and bent on world destruction. The horrifying capstone of antisemitism in the modern era was given the name the “Final Solution” by the Nazis.   Sadly, the story of Jew hatred continues today, in the conspiracy junkie who sees the Rothschilds behind every event and in the equally abhorrent Critical Theory claims about Israeli occupation and oppression. From these two ends of the Western political spectrum, the Jews have once again been cast into a villainous role they've never deserved.  Despite being an emotionally heavy movie, Golda ends with an optimistic note. Through the peace that ended the war between Israel and Egypt, steps began which, 50 years later, have led to an increasing number of treaties between Arabs and Israelis. Though we are rightly outraged by the vile comments of some in the West in support of the atrocities of Hamas, nearly every Western government has stood up for Israel in this situation. And many Muslim states have either stayed quiet or even voiced support.  Will this current crisis lead to greater stability as the crisis told about in the film? We don't know. What we do know is that this history did not begin yesterday, nor will it be fixed tomorrow. But, even when history does rhyme, it doesn't necessarily have to repeat. We live in God's world. He promises to “make all things new.”  That will be how the story ends.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Dr. Timothy Padgett. If you're a fan of Breakpoint, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

Firedancer aims to overhaul each component of Solana's existing architecture. If Firedancer is successfully implemented, it could offer several benefits. These include advancing the DeFi sector by reducing latency and enabling high-throughput Web2 applications to function on-chain. Meanwhile, Solana also announced integrations with Amazon AWS and Google Cloud services.00:00 intro00:17 Firedancer Launches Testnet01:57 Solana Speed Improvements03:15 Firedancer Speed Test04:28 Release Timeline05:44 Decentralization07:08 Carbon Footprint09:14 ESG Funds 10:15 Compressed NFTs11:43 Amazon & Google13:27 Tokenized Assets15:33 Visa x Solana17:06 Solana Paybands17:55 Visa Doomed?20:07 $SOL Price & Sentiment20:50 outro#Crypto #breakpoint2023 #solana ~SSolana Firedancer Launches!

On this episode, we're recapping the latest updates and reveals from Solana Breakpoint 2023 event around the category of retail & enterprise merchant payments & loyalty. Are we about to see mega mainstream adoption?~This episode is sponsored by Tangem~Tangem ➜ https://bit.ly/TangemPBNUse Code: "PBN" for Additional Discounts!00:00 intro00:22 Sponsor: Tangem Wallet01:11 Shopify Solana Lies02:33 Shopify Alternative03:15 Venta Playband Payments03:43 Merchant Payment Solutions05:39 Metaplex Fees06:49 Enterprise Onboarding07:14 intel Events Partnership08:54 SocialFi Exploding11:28 NFT Ticketing Launches!13:59 Food Ordering & Loyalty15:36 Ticketmaster Killer16:14 We Need Taylor Swift17:12 Taylor Swift AMC Concert18:09 Taylor is Pro-Web318:43 Solana Revenue19:25 Adoption Curve19:53 outro#Solana #Crypto #taylorswift ~Solana Payments Updates!

After the FTX collapse exactly 1 year ago today, the market immediately deemed Solana an altcoin of the past. Were they right? Should you trust this recent pump going into the Breakpoint event! Join Cryptomanran today to find out more! ⚠️

Every autumn, in a sort of seasonal ritual, the leaves start turning, the air turns chilly, and Christians argue over whether to celebrate Halloween. While I've never been a huge fan of the dark, sketchy costumes (and I'm talking about what adults wear), there's a whole history to this day, unknown to most people. In fact, there's an even more amazing history behind tomorrow, All Saints' Day.    Back in 2007, Chuck Colson described that history in a Breakpoint he called, “Honoring the Witnesses.” Here's Chuck Colson:  It is Halloween again, and to be frank, I really don't look forward to talking about it on Breakpoint every year. At best, Halloween has become an excuse to ask total strangers for candy. At worst, it's a celebration of the mindless paganism our ancestors wisely turned their backs on. So, this year, I'd like to turn your attention to the often overlooked celebration that Halloween calls to mind. In case you've missed it before, the name Halloween is a shortening of All Hallows' Eve and signifies the night before All Saints' Day. For centuries on All Saints' Day, the Church celebrated the lives of Christians who went before us. And rightly so: We can learn so much from those whom the author of Hebrews calls that great cloud of witnesses.    The tradition of remembering the Church triumphant dates back to the time of the first Christian martyrs. When soldiers of Marcus Aurelius Verus came to arrest Polycarp, a beloved church leader, Polycarp greeted them kindly. According to the third-century historian Eusebius, Polycarp “ordered a table to be laid for them immediately, invited them to eat as much as they liked, asking in return a single hour in which he could pray.” When Polycarp later stood in the coliseum, accused and surrounded by the jeering crowds, the governor pressed him to recant his faith. Instead, this man, who himself had been discipled by the Apostle John, said this: “For 86 years, I have been [Christ's] servant, and He has never done me wrong: How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” As they were preparing to burn him alive, Polycarp offered up prayers of faith and praise.    In the years following Polycarp's death, Christians would gather annually to take communion beside his grave. There they would remember his brave witness and take courage from his example. As the years passed, the day shifted in focusing from remembering Polycarp to honoring all martyrs. By the seventh century, the Church created a holiday to honor all of God's saints—heroes of the faith. One of my favorite heroes was a woman named Monica, who lived during the fourth century. She would never face flames or jeering crowds, as did Polycarp, but she did face testing. That testing came in the form of her own longing for the return of her prodigal son, Augustine. His licentious lifestyle made this Christian mother weep. Later, when Augustine, who is now known as one of the foremost theologians of Christianity and scholars of Western civilization, did come to Christ, he wrote this prayer: “My mother, Your faithful servant, wept to You for me, shedding more tears for my spiritual death than others shed for the bodily death of a son. You heard her.”   I could tell you story after story like this, from Justin Martyr to Martin Luther to Amy Carmichael. But let me encourage you to do something this All Saints' Day. Take the lead in your church to honor the great saints who set examples for us. Reacquaint your children with Halloween's Christian origins. Research together and talk about the lives of Christian heroes. Sure, go ahead and let the kids dress up like Batman and hit up your neighbors for candy. But when the hoopla of modern Halloween is over, encourage your kids to imitate some real heroes—not in what they put on, but in how they live their lives.   That was Chuck Colson, from October 31, 2007, describing the rich history behind All Saints' Day.  For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.  This Breakpoint was originally published on October 31, 2022. 

Claynosaurz is also a 3D production studio dedicated to crafting top-tier entertainment intellectual property within the Web3 landscape, with a strong commitment to ongoing community involvement. The team is comprised of artists from Sony, Disney, Dreamworks, Ubisoft, Netflix, Warner Bros, Marvel, Industrial Light & Magic, and more. Claynosaurz is venturing into the physical collectibles sector. This transition will begin with the First Edition release of limited-color Plushies.Guests: Nic Cabana - Co-Creative Director & FounderAndrew Pelekis - CEOClaynosaurz Website ➜ https://bit.ly/ClaynoSiteClaynosaurz NFTs ➜ https://bit.ly/ClayMagicEden00:00 intro00:40 Claynosaurz03:52 Solana Breakpoint 202304:57 Cinematic Trailer06:37 Quality Content Focus07:56 NFT Storytelling09:09 Classes & Forging11:28 How To Get Started13:00 Plushies Launch15:02 Scaling To Mainstream16:31 Claynosaurz Film17:53 Games19:07 Brand Partnerships23:22 AR & VR24:02 Phantom Shortcuts Coming25:17 Solana Saga Mobile Benefits26:19 Community Events & Marketing28:37 outro#Solana #breakpoint2023 #NFT~Claynosaurz INTERVIEW!

On today's episode we discuss the surge in volume in NFTS and Ordinals, the BreakPoint conference and the projects dropping new products like Clayno, MadLads and much more. Today's show was sponsored by Plague Poppets. Plague Poppet's Twitter Tune in live every weekday Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM Eastern to 10:15 AM. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy our NFT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give us your thoughts on the show by leaving a rating. -- DISCLAIMER: You should never treat any opinion expressed by the hosts of this content as a recommendation to make a particular investment, or to follow a particular strategy. The thoughts and commentary on this show are an expression of the hosts' opinions and are for entertainment and informational purposes only. This show is never financial advice.

Working off a Breakpoint article written by Glenn, the guys discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza. Glenn begins with a brief overview of Zionism and the history of modern Israel before the discussion moves to the conduct of war, terrorism, and the worldview ideas that connect the woke left and Hamas. Read Glenn's Article:https://breakpoint.org/barbaric-norms-hamas-israel-and-just-war/ Conversation with Rev David Paleggi, rector of Christ Church, Jerusalem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaVp7IJxtYc Contact Private Family Banking at banking@privatefamilybanking.com For a free e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" go to https://protectyourmoneynow.net/ To set up a FREE 30-Minute Consultation, use the link below: https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Working off a Breakpoint article written by Glenn, the guys discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza. Glenn begins with a brief overview of Zionism and the history of modern Israel before the discussion moves to the conduct of war, terrorism, and the worldview ideas that connect the woke left and Hamas. Read Glenn’s Article:https://breakpoint.org/barbaric-norms-hamas-israel-and-just-war/ Conversation with Rev David Paleggi, rector of Christ Church, Jerusalem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaVp7IJxtYc Contact Private Family Banking at banking@privatefamilybanking.com For a free e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" go to https://protectyourmoneynow.net/ To set up a FREE 30-Minute Consultation, use the link below: https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

A wave of optimism is sweeping through the crypto markets. On Friday, October 27, the multi-billion-dollar asset fund VanEck provided valuable insights into Solana's potential valuation for 2030. According to the asset fund manager, Solana is poised to reach $3,200 by the end of this decade. On this episode, we're diving into the latest Solana updates from its event Breakpoint 2023.00:00 intro00:14 VanEck Ridiculous Prediction01:32 Breakpoint 2023 Begins01:49 Raoul Pal on Solana02:51 Firedancer Coming03:59 Helius Streaming Payments04:23 Teleport Launches05:09 Solana Pay05:41 Playbands for Payments06:30 USDC on Solana08:17 USDC to Cash08:40 TipLink at Breakpoint09:36 Raoul Pal on NFTs11:15 Backpack xNFTs11:33 Phantom Camera Mint12:08 Claynosaurz12:52 NFT Ticketing13:29 Taylor Swift14:35 Jim Cramer One Year Later15:39 SOL Flipping XRP?16:15 outro#Solana #Crypto #Breakpoint2023~Solana To $3,000!?

Working off a Breakpoint article written by Glenn, the guys discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza. Glenn begins with a brief overview of Zionism and the history of modern Israel before the discussion moves to the conduct of war, terrorism, and the worldview ideas that connect the woke left and Hamas. Read Glenn’s Article:https://breakpoint.org/barbaric-norms-hamas-israel-and-just-war/ Conversation with Rev David Paleggi, rector of Christ Church, Jerusalem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaVp7IJxtYc Contact Private Family Banking at banking@privatefamilybanking.com For a free e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" go to https://protectyourmoneynow.net/ To set up a FREE 30-Minute Consultation, use the link below: https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

A new California law signed by Governor Newsom on October 7 will enable strangers to lead children 12 and older on matters of mental health and their home life without requiring any parental consent. It's a bizarre irony for a state that's also suing the corporation Meta for harming children under age 13 through its social media platforms, based on the assumption that children are too vulnerable to resist the effects of social media. Evidently, children can't resist their phones, but they should be able to make massive decisions about their minds, bodies, and family relationships without their parents' consent.  The new law, Assembly Bill 665, expands an existing law that only applied to minors aged 12 and older with private health insurance. The new law includes minors aged 12 and older who are covered by publicly funded health insurance. Additionally, this new law broadens the list of professionals able to treat such minors from not only mental health professionals, clinical psychologists, and other licensed counselors, but also a “registered psychological assistant, a psychological trainee, an associate clinical social worker, a social work intern,” and more. The law also permits minors to pursue mental health services and residential shelter services without having to “present a danger of serious physical or mental harm to themselves or to others, or be the alleged victim of incest or child abuse.”  LGBTQ activists are celebrating the law as a huge victory for empowering at-risk “queer” youth. Director of California Policy Kim Lewis commended Governor Newsom for signing the new law, which will address “disparities” and provide “critical mental health services” for youth, “especially youth of color and LGBTQIA+ youth.”   However, far from empowering young people, California's new law is rooted in a lie about what it means to be human. At the core of this bill is an idea that humans, including young people, are self-determined, self-defined beings who should have no restraints on what they desire or believe. Most importantly, the bill undermines the parent-child relationship, the most vital relationship for a child's health and wellbeing. In its place, the law offers absolute autonomy to young people, despite their youth and immaturity.  This view of people, especially children, is deeply flawed. As Scripture teaches and reality confirms, our existence is owed to others–to God, first and foremost, and to mothers and fathers, according to God's design. Mothers and fathers are those tasked with and best able to provide care for children, who are born vulnerable creatures dependent on love and nurturing in order to become healthy, independent adults.  Policies like AB 665 are predicated on “empowering” children by denying this dependence on parents, as well as the limits imposed by our Creator. In between the parents and children, this bill places agents of the state, who are allegiant to ideologies about children rather than the children themselves.   One California mom, Abigail Martinez, lost custody of her daughter after school counselors and the Department of Children and Family Services determined that she was not properly supporting her daughter's transgender identity. The state agents claimed to know her daughter better than Abigail did, but they were tragically wrong. Months later, Abigail's daughter took her own life.   Similar stories are found in other states. In fact, according to a new groundbreaking study, states where minors are free to consent to health services without parental permission experience higher youth suicide rates. And the consequences won't end here. Bad ideas beget worse ideas. The only way to truly empower children is by protecting the rights of parents to protect their hearts, minds, and bodies. No other relationship can replace parental protection and guidance. Certainly the state cannot. This law leaves young people vulnerable to the malpractice of the Dr. Frankensteins of our cultural moment and will pave the way for further exploitation. The law claims to recognize that kids are capable of consent, but in reality it lets off the hook those adults who influence them.   Kids don't need “empowerment.” They need parents. The way to help kids struggling with their mental health is by preserving and strengthening their relationships with those who, in most cases, know and love them best.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Jared Eckert. To help us share Breakpoint with others, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.   

In a recent article published by the Washington Institute, professor and lawyer Eric Treene offered a robust alternative way of understanding Christian Nationalism and its significance within American culture. Depending on who's doing the talking, Christian Nationalism is either the greatest danger to America or our only hope in resisting the onslaught of the progressive movement. But there is a better way. As Treene wrote, the current debate over Christian Nationalism is the most recent chapter of something that is an endemic part of the American story:  "[C]an Christians honestly look around and conclude that there is more nationalism melded with their faith than in the past? In 1941 President Franklin Roosevelt distributed a pocket New Testament to soldiers throughout the Armed Services, with the inscription: 'As Commander-in-Chief I take pleasure in commending the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States.'"  At the same time, according to Treene, there are reasons to be concerned about Christian Nationalism.   "The alarmism about growing Christian Nationalism is vastly overblown among some, and deliberately manipulated for political reasons among others. But there is a “there” there." In the inaugural offering of Breakpoint Forums, the Colson Center hosted two of American Christianity's keenest voices about faith and the public square. Rusty Reno, chief editor of First Things, and Hunter Baker, newly appointed provost of North Greenville University, addressed the issue of Christian Nationalism.   Not only do Reno and Baker hail from different Church traditions, but they took somewhat differing postures in the forum on what faithful citizenship looks like in our cultural moment. Dr. Reno's seriousness about where a secular globalist perspective has left us leads him to embrace a “soft” Christian Nationalism, though he objects to the positions of some of its most outspoken advocates. As he put it,   "I would vastly prefer a Christian America to a secular America. … I think it's as simple as that. You have to ask yourself, what would you prefer, a Christian America or a secular America? I'd prefer a Christian America, and in that sense, Christian nationalism."  Dr. Baker, on the other hand, argued against using the title Christian Nationalism while affirming the largely Christian influence on our nation throughout its history. He insisted that the nation and the Church are better off without any kind of formal link, while the nation is helped by the intentional influence of the church.   "It's like George Washington and the Bible. These are the bulwarks of the United States in that period. But … for most of our history, it's not the case that the United States government is sort of the official partner of the Christian faith, nor is it seeking to officially establish the Christian faith or Christian institutions."  Their differences were illuminating, especially given their shared priority of Christian faith, grounded in Christian truth as revealed in Holy Scripture. Each warned against the danger posed by our increasingly intolerant, secular, and progressive gatekeepers who sit atop the cultural, academic, and political power structures of our society. And both Reno and Baker affirmed the basic responsibility believers have to bring their convictions to the ballot box.   The conversation was helpful and enlightening. While combatants on the extreme ends of the debate insist that it's their way or the highway, Christians must seek an increasing Christian influence without falling for the dangers C.S. Lewis warned us against in God in the Dock when he said, “By the mere act of calling itself the Christian Party it implicitly accuses all Christians who do not join it of apostasy and betrayal.” We can do better than that. You can watch the recording of the Breakpoint Forum on Christian Nationalism on YouTube.   Working to see a nation become more Christian doesn't make one a Christian Nationalist in the breathlessly alarmed sense we hear about so often. Our goal is faithfulness. We can long for and we can work for Christian renewal in our time without, as Chuck Colson often warned against, looking for our salvation to arrive on Air Force One.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Dr. Timothy Padgett. If you're a fan of Breakpoint, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

Andy's special guest for this episode is a former Special Forces operative multiple business owner, corporate speaker, best Selling Author and TV personality, Ollie Ollerton. His business BreakPoint changes the way people think so that they experience positive growth and development. This episode is gonna be a banger. KEY TAKEAWAYS  Anyone can change, including overcoming any kind of addiction. To feel more fulfilled you have to aim for something bigger. Unravelling your past paves the way to your future. Taking action, even when you don't want to, builds resilience. You can overcome fear – Ollie shares several practical ways to do this. Helping others is powerful. The word competition actually means strive together, not trying to beat others. Invest in yourself. You are your most important project. We are electric beings, that give off vibrations and energy and operate on our own frequency. Never forget the lessons you learn from negative experiences. BEST MOMENTS ‘BreakPoint is the moment you step into short term discomfort for long term gain.' ‘We are wired to take the path of least resistance … be aware of your primal coding,.' ‘Focus on that one meter square box around yourself.' ‘You don't have a drinking problem. You have a problem that's causing you to drink.' EPISODE RESOURCES https://break-point.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/break_point_uk/ Ollie's Books https://alcoholchange.org.uk/   VALUABLE RESOURCES Stay Hungry Podcast Series Stay Hungry Bestselling Book Done-for-you marketing: www.codebreak.co.uk If you're fed up with wasting your time and money on marketing that doesn't generate enquiries and sales - hop on a Codebreak discovery call. After all, getting lots of 'likes' on your Facebook page ain't gonna make your boat go faster. But up-to-date marketing techniques combined with AI will. A strategy and action plan that attracts buyers rather than tyre-kickers. The Codebreak Crew is here to do all that heavy lifting for you - https://calendly.com/d/4t8-98m-kq7   ABOUT THE HOSTS Joel Stone Joel Stone is a marketer and disciple of business strategy. After seeing the impact of the 2008 recession, he decided to take control and leave employment to set up in business for himself. He quickly built an award-winning design agency, partnering with Andy on numerous projects until they formed Codebreak in 2019. Having previously helped brands including GlaxoSmithKline, Diageo, Beta Tools, and Channel 4, Joel's work has been seen all over the world. He takes pride in applying techniques normally reserved for huge corporations to SMEs throughout the UK. Case studies of Joel's work have featured in Design Week, The Drum, and Social Media Today.   Andy Rao Andy studied Psychology at university, which was his springboard into the world of marketing. He realised that to sell successfully you have to put yourself into the shoes of your customer and understand their why. Andy started his marketing career working closely with dozens of Shropshire businesses, all of whom had something different to sell. During that time, Andy picked up the skills he uses today to tailor each marketing solution to his client´s businesses, the industries they work in, and the different types of customers they need to reach.   CONTACT THE HOSTS Website - https://www.codebreak.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/codebreak Website - fixmymarketing.co.uk    This show was brought to you by Progressive Media

Nearly 15 years ago, Uwe and Hannelore Romeike fled Germany in order to homeschool their children in the United States. Under Germany's education laws, the Romeikes were subject to severe financial penalties for attempting to homeschool. On a few occasions, police came to their home and escorted their children to school. In 2009, they moved to the U.S. and petitioned the government for asylum.    They've lived here since, mainly in Morristown, Tennessee. Never formally granted asylum, they were granted indefinite deferred action status in 2014 by the Obama administration. They've since added two children, their two oldest have married U.S. citizens, and they have even welcomed a grandchild.    Last month, during a “routine check-in,” the Romeikes were told they had to return to Germany. According to Home School Legal Defense Association attorney Kevin Boden:    "They were basically given four weeks to come back. They (were given) a report date in October. They (didn't) know what (was) going to happen in that meeting. They (didn't) know if they're going to be forced to leave. They (didn't) know if they're going to be taken into custody."    Given how long the family has been in the United States and how unconcerned the Biden administration seems to be about illegal immigrants pouring across the Southern border, it's difficult to make sense of why they would be so concerned about the Romeike family status now. After a significant amount of public pressure, the INS has given the family a one-year reprieve, but their story seems part of an increasing hostility to religious refugees on the part of the U.S. government.   According to a 2023 report from World Relief and Open Doors US, the number of religious refugees admitted to the U.S. has plummeted, though the number of Christians facing persecution around the world continues to climb. An estimated 360 million Christians live under threat of persecution and discrimination, an increase of 100 million in the last three years. Last year, the United States only resettled 25,465 refugees, excluding the Afghans and Ukrainians who entered the U.S. via a separate parole program. This number represents a dramatic reduction from pre-2017 levels when the U.S. resettled an average of over 80,000 people per year.  And, as the World Relief and Open Doors report outlines, the number of religious (including Christian) refugees from historically dangerous parts of the world have decreased even more sharply. In 2022, refugees from Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, and Iraq were down “85 percent, 95 percent, 92 percent and 94 percent, respectively” compared to 2016 levels. Between 2016 and 2022, refugees from Burma (including most Rohingya) declined by 62%, total Christian arrivals by 70%, and Yezidis by 100%.  “America,” the author concludes, “is no longer the safe haven for displaced persons that it once was.”    Though refugee resettlement in the U.S. slowed to a trickle during the COVID-19 pandemic, the trend goes back earlier. In 2019,  I observed in a Breakpoint commentary that though the Trump administration had stalwartly defended religious liberty at home, it had shut down legal channels for religious—including Christian—refugees while trying to stop the crisis of illegal immigration.    Now, America faces a heightened crisis of illegal crossings due to the Biden administration's open border policies, especially on the southern border. However, fixing that problem should not include closing off all options for religious asylum seekers. Especially since the administration promised to specifically increase the number of religious refugees but instead arranged for  472,000 Venezuelans to come work in the U.S.    The strange targeting of the Romeike  family, along with an unaddressed crisis of green-card applications, which could see thousands of faith leaders in the U.S. sent home  after years of residency, suggests that the religious aspect of these stories may be an outsized factor.   Admittedly, reversing this trend now seems impossible in light of the war between Israel and Hamas. None of the surrounding Muslim nations are opening their borders to those seeking to flee the imminent ground assault of Gaza. And large, angry, and violent immigrant populations are protesting in many Western cities in support of the atrocities committed against Israel. Though it is possible to secure our borders and to properly vet and assist refugees facing religious persecution, the system will need to be rebuilt around completely different assumptions.  The current system invites mistreatment and exploitation. Encouraging the lawlessness of some while abandoning others, especially many who belong to what Paul called “the household of faith,” only feeds a narrative that America is becoming a more hostile place for religion, especially Christianity. That narrative is supported by more than enough evidence already.   This Breakpoint was co-authored by Kasey Leander. To help us share Breakpoint with others, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.   

Are you tired of feeling like your potential in sports is being held back? Do you want to unlock the secret to reaching new heights in your performance? Well, get ready for a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat, with an unexpected twist that could change everything. Dr. Julie Wiernik, the host of Gettin' Gritty with Dr. J, has a revelation that will challenge everything you thought you knew about sports. Get ready to dive into the world of mental toughness, as Dr. J uncovers the missing piece of the puzzle that could unleash your full potential. But be warned, once you discover the truth, there's no going back. In this episode, you will be able to: Boost your performance with mental training techniques used by top athletes. Overcome the pressure and thrive as a young athlete. Use coaching strategies to foster a positive mindset and enhance your performance. Discover the benefits of working with a sports psychologist for your mental well-being. Embrace failure as a stepping stone to increased resilience and success in sports. Failure doesn't have to be bad. It's a stepping stone to improvement. - Dr. Julie Wiernik undefined The resources mentioned in this episode are: Check out the Netflix series Breakpoint for an inside look at pro tennis and the mental challenges athletes face. Explore resources on sports psychology and mental health to enhance your performance in all areas of life. Consider incorporating mental training into your athletic routine to improve focus, composure, and belief. Practice logic over emotions when facing challenges or making mistakes, focusing on making adjustments rather than negative self-talk. Recognize the importance of perception and redefine failure as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Emphasize the enjoyment and fun of the process rather than solely focusing on the end result. Find ways to make adjustments and try new things in practice to enhance skill development and learning. Explore professional coaching or sports psychology services to receive personalized guidance and support in your athletic journey.

Medvedev says Alcaraz is like nadal and novak when they were young. The upsets are getting crazy as seeds drop in asia!

Tony Wright is a USTPA Elite professional and a teaching pro at the Newport Beach Tennis Club. He runs the brand Balanced Tennis, where his interesting and often humorous clips using film references caught my and many other followers eyes. It turns out he is also a really nice guy and an interesting chat. In this podcast we get into anything from coaching headaches, to the life of being media on the tours and, as well, lots of gear. Time stamps 00:00 Intro 03:34 Starting tennis late 07:59 Coaching kids vs seniors 16:17 Typical issues among rec players 17:45 Common injuries and racquet choices 22:27 Control racquet over power racquet to improve 25:56 Dealing with injuries 34:34 From creative writing to tennis 40:33 Being a self-taught tennis nerd 44:20 Are there pickleball wars in Newport? 52:37 The state of US tennis 1:00:18 Breakpoint vs ITF Futures 1:09:14 Going behind the scenes 1:19:18 Tony's racquet(s) of choice 1:25:14 Playing tournaments 1:30:32 Tennis apparel and shoes 1:51:35 Selling tennis as a sport

If you're feeling overwhelmed by anger and frustration because your intense training and dedication still hasn't led to the desired results, then you are not alone! Despite your efforts, you may find yourself stuck in a cycle of disappointment and self-doubt, unable to break free from the grips of unresolved emotions. In this episode, you will be able to: Unlock peak performance by prioritizing mental health and well-being in your athletic journey. Learn how to address and overcome unresolved emotions that may be holding you back from reaching your full potential on the field or court. Gain valuable insights into the perspective and mindset of top athletes that can help you navigate the challenges of competition with confidence and resilience. Develop a grounded mentality and appreciate the process of personal growth and skill development, fostering a healthier and more sustainable approach to your athletic pursuits. Discover the power of mental strength and how it can enhance your performance, allowing you to consistently perform at your best in high-pressure situations. Mental toughness is finding a way, even when we struggle. - Dr. Julie Wiernik Embrace the Journey Success in sports is not just about winning, but embracing the journey while striving for personal growth. Every athlete's path is unique, punctuated with victories, losses, and challenging moments. Recognizing your journey, celebrating every step towards improvement, and deriving joy from the process rather than just the victory is just as crucial as nailing the perfect swing or winning a tournament. Embracing the journey aids in developing a balanced perspective, ultimately leading to a healthier sporting career and personal life. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Check out the documentary Breakpoint on Netflix to gain insight into the psychology of professional tennis players. Consider journaling as a tool for improving mental performance in sports and other areas of life. Get a notebook and start writing down your goals and thoughts. Explore the Purpose Pilot, a company focused on helping young entrepreneurs develop their skills and achieve their goals. Watch the documentary on Nick Kirigos to understand the challenges he faces and the potential impact of unresolved childhood trauma on his performance. Reflect on the importance of being okay with losing in order to be successful. Understand that setbacks and failures are part of the journey to improvement. Seek the guidance of a sports psychologist or mental performance coach to break through barriers and reach your full potential in your chosen sport or field. Dive into other sports documentaries like Drive to Survive or Welcome to Wrexham to gain insights into the psychology of athletes and the impact of sports on communities. Stay open-minded and receptive to learning and evolving as an athlete or individual. Embrace the process of personal growth and self-discovery.

Today most business is at a BreakPOINT with characteristics of a BreakDOWN and opportunity of a BreakTHROUGH" David M CorbinDAVID M. CORBINDavid@DavidCorbin.comDavidCorbin.comDavid's BooksKeynote Speaker, Business Adviser, President of Private and Public Corporations, Inventor, Mentor and pretty good guy…..David M. Corbin has been referred to as “Robin Williams with an MBA” because of his very practical, high relevant content speeches coupled with entertaining and sometimes side splitting stories. A former psychotherapist with a background in healthcare, he has served as management and leadership consultant to businesses and organizations of all sizes – from Fortune 20 companies to businesses with less than 1 million – and enjoys the challenges of all. He has worked directly with the Presidents of companies such as AT&T, Hallmark, Sprint as well as the Hon.Secretary of Veterans Administration and others.David claims that he is reverse aging not because of his healthy lifestyle of daily raw smoothies and fitness routine but because of the energy that he receives from gracious and appreciative audiences around the world.David was the host and star of the movie Pass It On with his colleagues Mark Victor Hansen, Brian Tracy, John Assaraf, Denis Waitley, Evander Holyfield, Les Brown and 50 other luminaries. David is featured in the Napoleon Hill Foundation's movie, Three Feet From Gold and the book of the same name (Sterling). David's book, Illuminate- Harnessing The Positive Power of Negative Thinking (John Wiley & Sons Publishing) has reached the #2 book in the Amazon category of business life.He has been a featured speaker for INC Magazine's national and regional business conferences since 1995 and was rated in their top 5% of speakers. He was inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame (not affiliated with NSA) in 2010.His full service consulting and development firm specializes in maximizing the productivity and profitability of business, industry and government.David was awarded the International Enterprise of the Year for Innovation by Bank of America for the touch screen patient interview system that he invented and took to market. Presented by Former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, Sec. James Baker, Tom Peters, Maya Angelou, Hon. Newt Gingrich and others, the Enterprise Award is awarded once per year to only one recipient.

On today's program, we take a look at the 50 largest evangelism and discipleship organizations in the nation.  We also have details regarding the suspension of celebrity pastor Albert Tate. And the state of California has sued pregnancy care centers in the state. The lawsuit could have chilling effect on pregnancy resource centers around the country. And do you remember Mark Driscoll, the disgraced former pastor of Seattle's Mars Hill Church?  Well, he's back, and we'll fill you in what he's been up to. We begin today with Andy Stanley's controversial conference Unconditional Love, which took place at Stanley's North Point Church near Atlanta last weekend.  FINAL THOUGHTS: It's a new month, and we have a new gift for our donors. MinistryWatch has published a booklet called “75 Red Flags To Consider Before Donating To A Christian Ministry.” We'll send you that booklet as our thank you for any gift to MinistryWatch during the month of October. This is a great tool for Christian donors. We use the questions in this booklet every day here at MinistryWatch to help us evaluate ministries. To get your copy, just go to the MinistryWatch website and hit the donate button at the top of the page. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Liz Lykins, Chris Moody, John Stonestreet, Timothy Padgett, Kim Roberts, Kathryn Post, Steve Rabey, Christina Darnell, and Rod Pitzer. A special thanks to Religion UnPlugged and Breakpoint with the Colson Center for Christian Worldview for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Gordo Byrne is a an accomplished triathlete, coach and mentor. Known for his impressive triathlon career, he has competed in numerous Ironman and long-distance events, earning respect for his dedication and performance. Beyond the racecourse, Gordo's influence extends through his co-authored book, "Going Long: Training for Triathlon's Ultimate Challenge," a definitive resource for triathletes. His insightful blogs and writings further showcase his expertise, providing a wealth of knowledge to the endurance community. As a coach and mentor, he's known for his balanced, sustainable training philosophy, inspiring countless athletes to reach their full potential and fostering a culture of respect and admiration within the sport.TRANSCRIPT:https://share.transistor.fm/s/801ae8c...EPISODE LINKS:Gordo's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feelthebyrn/Gordo's Substack: https://substack.com/@feelthebyrnGordo's Twitter: https://twitter.com/feelthebyrn1?ref_...PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: www.relaxedrunning.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast...Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MMfLsQ...RSS: https://feeds.transistor.fm/relaxed-r...OUTLINE:[00:02:41] Specific adaptation and training.[00:06:18] Balance between body and data.[00:10:46] A more dynamic approach to loading.[00:13:02] Monitoring sleep for training.[00:15:20] Long-term training benefits.[00:21:56] Whole body fitness.[00:23:18] Using the bike for training.[00:27:30] Training cadence for runners.[00:30:11] Water running and aerobic capacity.[00:34:17] Breakpoint volume and mindset change.[00:39:01] Lifestyle and stress in running.[00:43:18] Mental Side of Performance.[00:46:01] Recovery structure and loading.[00:51:02] Low season vs. off season.[00:54:38] The obsession with running at lightweight.[00:59:48] Heart rate monitor.[01:04:14] Footwear technology and training.[01:06:36] Shoe technology and performance.SOCIAL:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/relaxedrunning- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relaxed_run...{{triathlon}} {{ironman}} {{marathonrunning}}

Last year, Pew Research reported that only 29% of Americans now are willing to say they have a “great deal of confidence” in medical scientists to act in the best interests of the public. That represents an 11% decline since 2020. This dramatic drop is both significant, given the historic importance of medical research in shaping public opinion, and understandable, given a growing crisis in the reliability of scientific research overall.   A year ago, in a Breakpoint commentary, we described this crisis. For example, according to an analysis by University of California behavioral economists, the least reliable scientific studies are most likely to be cited by other scientists. After a review of 20,000 published papers, these researchers suggested in an article for the journal Science, that doubtful findings are cited more often because they're “interesting.”  And now, the problem has led some scientists to “moonlight” as detectives, combing through the scientific literature to sniff out fraud, negligence, and mistakes. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal described one such sleuthing trio. Joe Simmons, Leif Nelson, and Uri Simonsohn run a website called Data Colada, which is dedicated to “debunking published studies built on faulty or fraudulent data.” According to the article, these scientists are able to recognize suspicious patterns in scientific papers, such as cherry-picked data, small sample sizes, bad math, or just results that make no sense.   In a sense, these moonlighters are doing the kind of work that scientists should be doing as a normal part of their work. However, the scientific enterprise is plagued by what has been called a “replication crisis.” In essence, findings are too often published without anyone confirming the results with other experiments. This became common knowledge in 2016 when the journal Nature reported that “more than 70% of researchers have tried and failed to reproduce another scientist's experiments, and more than half have failed to reproduce their own experiments.”  Thanks in large part to the efforts of sleuths like Data Colada, “[a]t least 5,500 faulty papers were retracted in 2022, compared with (only) 119 in 2002.” All the debunking has led to embarrassing resignations, including the former president of Stanford University, as well as “upended careers and retaliatory lawsuits.” And this is probably just the beginning. According to The Wall Street Journal report, of the nearly 800 papers one researcher reported in the last decade, “only a third had been corrected or retracted five years later.”  Of course, human fallenness is behind this mess. That may sound like an oversimplification, but it's significant considering the myth of the objective scientist always following wherever the evidence leads. In addition to faulty and fraudulent results being more “interesting,” there are material incentives to fudge research. Pumping out papers “can yield jobs, grants, speaking engagements and seats on corporate advisory boards.” This “pushes researchers to chase unique and interesting findings, sometimes at the expense of truth.”   And yet, as The Wall Street Journal piece described, scientific fraud has real-world costs:   Flawed social-science research can lead to faulty corporate decisions about consumer behavior or misguided government rules and policies. Errant medical research risks harm to patients. Researchers in all fields can waste years and millions of dollars in grants trying to advance what turn out to be fraudulent findings.  More fundamentally, scientific “authority” is often wielded as a cudgel to end all political, social, and cultural debates. On everything from evolution to abortion, pandemics to climate change, gender to gay adoptions, the “science is settled” line is frequently invoked, and people actually believe it. The more science is sold as unassailable but then corrupted by politics and personal ambition, the more its rightful authority will be compromised. That would be a real tragedy, given how vital a tool it is for discovering truth and how much it reveals about the world we live in and the kind of creatures we are.  Scientists like those at Data Colada who hope to restore integrity to the scientific enterprise must hold their peers accountable. In the process, they are calling our attention back to the human element in science. It can never be, strictly speaking, an objective enterprise. After all, it is humans who are looking through those microscopes, conducting the research, and writing those papers. Even when not intentionally dishonest, humans err. That should be enough to raise our Spidey senses whenever a scientific finding is sold as if it is a pronouncement from God.   Good science requires not just a sharp mind but also moral integrity, or what C.S. Lewis called “the chest” in The Abolition of Man. In this sense, the very existence of science depends on areas of knowledge that cannot be placed in a test tube: ethics, philosophy, even religion. Good science must be linked with good character. If science is to be a legitimate search for truth, then scientists must be people who love truth.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Shane Morris. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

Christians who work in politics to end legalized abortion do so because innocent lives are at stake. That would be enough cause in and of itself. However, abortion isn't just one of the many issues that we should care about.  In many ways, abortion, perhaps more than any other single issue, symbolizes our society's core beliefs. Simply put, Christian societies do not kill their smallest, most vulnerable members. Pagan societies, on the other hand, do.   In a fascinating recent essay published at First Things, Louise Perry argued that the fight over abortion is really about whether we will remain, in any real sense, a Christian society, or we will re-paganize to the beliefs and values of pre-Christian times. Perry, author of the recent book The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, isn't a Christian, though she admits she finds Christianity attractive. Her academic journey seems to have become a spiritual journey, one that has led to a recognition that many of her secular and humanist values are, in fact, remnants of a Christian morality that remade the world.  Perry opened her article by citing Scottish poet Hollie McNish, who wrote that archaeologists know they've found a Greek or Roman brothel when they unearth “a pit of newborn babies' bones.” Hearing this poem gave Perry the same “painful, squeezing, swooping sensation” she first felt when hearing a graphic description of abortion. She realized something pro-lifers have long argued: abortion is really a form of legalized infanticide and not so different from the baby-killing of the ancient world.  Though Perry is still pro-choice in certain cases, she's clearly uneasy about it. This is in part because she's a mom, and because she sees how abortion and infanticide exist on a “continuum” that includes other ancient practices like slavery, the sexual exploitation of women and children, and general disregard for the weak and poor. Historically, only one group of people objected to these things. As Perry wrote:  The supremely strange thing about Christianity in anthropological terms is that it takes a topsy-turvy attitude toward weakness and strength. To put it crudely, most cultures look at the powerful and the wealthy and assume that they must be doing something right to have attained such might. The poor are poor because of some failing of their own, whether in this life or the last. The smallness and feebleness of women and children is a sign that they must be commanded by men. The suffering of slaves is not an argument against slavery, but an argument against allowing oneself to be enslaved.  Into this predatory, power-centric pagan world stepped Christ, who defeated the powerful through submission to death—“even death on a cross.” After His resurrection, Christ's followers began insisting on the innate and equal value of all human beings and began condemning practices like infanticide.   Christians, of course, have not always lived up to these ideas, but they were unique in holding them. As authors like Tom Holland have argued, these Christian ideals didn't vanish with the rise of secular humanism. Western progressives owe their moral instincts to protect the weak and vulnerable to the Christian revolution, even if they scoff at the idea of the Christian God.   And therein lies Perry's problem. There is no group weaker or more vulnerable than unborn babies. Yet these are precisely the victims that feminists and secular progressives insist we must ignore to advance sexual freedom. We have all seen how much the rhetoric is heating up, both against those who work to save preborn lives and now for the legal extension of so-called “medical aid in dying” to children with disabilities.  This is why, Perry concludes, “The legal status of abortion…represents the bleeding edge of dechristianization.” Stepping decisively away from the influence of Christianity will bring back an “older, darker” set of values in which the strong exploit the weak and no one objects. Such a world would truly be, once again, pagan. At least some non-Christian writers seem to realize that in this world, women, the poor, and other vulnerable classes would not fare well.    Historically speaking, equality, human rights, and protection of the weak aren't “self-evident.” They're part of a distinctly Christian heritage shaped by a distinctly Christian vision of the world. As the values of our pagan past grow more influential and pervasive, progressives should take note. A society built on babies' bones won't long respect the rights of anyone except the powerful. For that, you need Christ.   This Breakpoint was co-authored by Shane Morris. If you're a fan of Breakpoint, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.  

John and Maria talk about Tuesday's Breakpoint Forum on Christian Nationalism and the latest examples of America turning its back on Christian refugees. - Recommendations - Colson Center National Conference 2024 in Arlington, TX!   Section 1 - Breakpoint's Forum on Christian Nationalism Breakpoint Forum: Unmasking Christian Nationalism Section 2 - America's Refugee Policy "German Homeschoolers Face Deportation After 15 Years in the U.S."  "Admit Christian Refugees" "Closed Doors: Persecuted Christians and the U.S. Refugee Resettlement and Asylum Processes" "Help Armenian Christian Refugees as they Flee Nagorno-Karabakh"   Section 3 - Stories of the Week "What Does it Mean to have a Courageous Faith?" "Tolkien, Eliot, and the Power of Story"

In 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that to deny a church “an otherwise available public benefit on account of its religious status” is to violate the Free Exercise Clause of the Constitution. In that case, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, a Missouri church that operated a licensed preschool and daycare facility, applied for state “funds for qualifying organizations to purchase recycled tires to resurface playgrounds.”   Trinity Lutheran met all the qualifications of the program, but the state informed them that a grant would violate a state constitutional provision that “no money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, section or denomination of religion.” Trinity Lutheran sued, claiming that because of the Free Exercise clause in the First Amendment, a government benefit cannot be withheld solely because of religion. In his majority decision, Chief Justice Roberts agreed, writing, “the exclusion of Trinity Lutheran from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution all the same, and cannot stand.”   The Trinity Lutheran case was only six years ago but, in a case of “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it,” Colorado is the latest state to “forget” something about which the Court has been very clear.  This is the inaugural year of Colorado's Universal Preschool Program, which funds 15 hours of preschool per week for every child in the state. To be a part of the program, the state is requiring that preschools sign a “service agreement” that includes a commitment to “not discriminate” on the basis of sexual orientation or so-called “gender identity.”  In August, the Denver Catholic Archdiocese, which operates 36 preschools and serves 1,500 kids a year, filed a lawsuit, noting that this “service agreement” would force them to hire teachers and administrators who do not hold to their faith commitments. Not only is this a case of “Trinity Lutheran all over again,” but it is another chapter in the never-ending story of public officials pressuring Christians to keep their faith out of public life.   Recently in Massachusetts, state officials denied an adoption license to a Catholic couple, claiming their faith made them “unsupportive” of transgender ideology. The state of Oregon similarly denied an adoption license to a young, widowed mother because she would not commit to taking a hypothetically gender-confused child to a gender clinic.    Years ago in a Breakpoint commentary, Chuck Colson described the jury selection process in the trial of Jack Kevorkian, the doctor accused of helping at least 27 of his patients kill themselves. Kevorkian's lawyer attempted to bar anyone who said their Christian faith forbids suicide from serving on the jury, claiming that belief made them unfairly biased.  "Religion has been increasingly relegated to the private sphere. Christians are welcome to participate in public life only if they leave their faith at home … [but] [t]he logic of Kevorkian's defense attorney could be applied to any criminal trial. If potential jurors can be excluded for believing that assisted suicide is immoral, what will be the next step? Will the attorneys of accused murderers be permitted to exclude jurors whose religion teaches that life is sacred?"  More than 25 years later, that dismal hypothetical seems less hypothetical. As the Colorado, Massachusetts, and Oregon stories reveal, some public officials are so hostile to the Christian faith, they would rather allow children in foster care to sleep on office floors in government buildings and remain in juvenile detention facilities than go to a home with religious parents.  Of course, there must aways be moral restrictions around who can and cannot adopt children and operate a preschool. Restrictions are necessary to protect children. However, some states are now operating from a moral framework that is exactly backward. The biblical woes against those who call right wrong and wrong right apply as much to government programs as they do to individuals.   It is a grave mistake to use irrational and false moral claims as the basis for these moral restrictions. In this upside-down world, children must be protected from religion rather than ideologies that threaten their minds, hearts, bodies, and most importantly relationships. Claiming to protect children, they are instead put in danger, subject to irreversible physical, psychological, and emotional damage.  Given how clear the Supreme Court has been about states discriminating against religious institutions, I suspect the state of Colorado will be forced to change this policy. Given how willing the state of Colorado is to defy clear Court teachings and target people of faith, I suspect they will resist for as long as possible. In the meantime, children will suffer because of the state's bigotry. If people of faith are told they “need not apply” for adoption licenses, preschool programs, serving on juries, feeding the homeless, advocating for the preborn, or caring for the sick and dying, who do they imagine will take their place?  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Maria Baer. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

Today's EXTRA episode is based on Warren Smith's “Editor's Notebook” column, which you can find here. To hear Robertson McQuilkin in the YouTube video I mentioned in the podcast, click here. The producers for today's program are Jeff McIntosh and Rich Roszel. I'm Warren Smith.  Until next time, may God bless you. Editor's Note:  This episode and the original “Editor's Notebook” column are based on an article written by Warren Smith in 2017 for The Colson Center's Breakpoint.org website.

Ever wanted to take a deep dive into the wild world of college football, strip clubs, and mouthwatering wings? Well, buckle up! We've got an episode packed with lively banter, from dissecting Alabama's football team and the SEC conference to sharing outrageous tales from strip clubs. We'll even throw in a spirited discussion about the iconic movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert.As we take a pit stop to refuel, we chew on our favorite local eateries, debate the merits of Sauce Wings vs. Buffalo Wild Wings, and share a nostalgic nod to the good ol' Purple Turtle. We then shift gears to the world of Uber, Turo, and scooter sharing. Learn how to navigate Turo sign-ups and get a quick rundown on the cinematic charm of Rickshaws.But it's not all fun and games. We navigate the choppier waters of divorce and finance, dissecting the hefty price tags of break-ups, seen through the lens of Kevin Costner's massive net worth. We then close out with some sports chitchat, diving into recent fan attendance records, Netflix's Breakpoint, and giving a shout-out to Coach Prime. So, sit back and enjoy the ride as we journey through this eclectic mix of topics, offering laughs, surprises, and some food for thought. You won't want to miss this whirlwind conversation.Thanks for listening to the Nobody's Talking Podcast. Follow us on Twitter: (nobodystalking1), Instagram : (nobodystalkingpodcast) and email us at (nobodystalkingpodcast@gmail.com) Thank you!

A year ago, The Economist urged readers not to bring their “whole selves” to work. While some corporate gurus suggest that we make work feel more like home, the authors beg to differ.    Your professional self displays commitment to the job and eats lunch at a desk. Your whole self is planning the next holiday and binges ice cream on the sofa. Your professional self makes presentations to the board and says things like: “Let's get the analytics team to kick the t[i]res on this.” Your whole self cannot operate a toaster and says things like: “Has anyone seen my socks?” Pretending to be someone you are not is not a problem; it's essential.  That description speaks to what lies at the heart of the modern re-definition of “authenticity.” From counselors pushing transgender ideology on kids, to Christians deconstructing faith, to the recent trend of “quiet quitting,” many people today think that true authenticity is the only means to real happiness. It means always expressing our feelings, always feeling completely supported in whatever we say or do, and rejecting any relationship that asks us to do otherwise.   The problem, as the late Tim Keller once illustrated, is that this understanding of authenticity is based on a faulty premise.   Imagine an Anglo-Saxon warrior in Britain in AD 800. He has two very strong inner impulses and feelings. One is aggression. He loves to smash and kill people when they show him disrespect. Living in a shame-and-honour culture with its warrior ethic, he will identify with that feeling. He will say to himself, That's me! That's who I am! I will express that. The other feeling he senses is same-sex attraction. To that he will say, That's not me. I will control and suppress that impulse.   Now imagine a young man walking around Manhattan today. He has the same two inward impulses, both equally strong, both difficult to control. What will he say? He will look at the aggression and think, This is not who I want to be, and will seek deliverance in therapy and anger-management programmes. He will look at his sexual desire, however, and conclude, That is who I am.  As Keller concluded, none of us simply choose to “be ourselves” in a vacuum. We constantly sift through contradictory feelings and evaluate them in the light of our values, which are often absorbed from our cultural setting.   The modern vision of “authenticity” is not born merely from an alternative understanding of morality, but from an alternative understanding of anthropology. In a world that has largely rejected God and objective truth as external realities, people increasingly turn inwards in deciding who they are and what they should do.   Any true understanding of self must begin by looking outward and upward, not inward. In the end, we may find conflict between what is true and how we feel. We must choose what is true. As Biola professor Erik Thoennes put it,  There's this idea that to live out of conformity with how I feel is hypocrisy; but that's a wrong definition of hypocrisy. … To live out of conformity to what I believe is hypocrisy. To live in conformity with what I believe, in spite of what I feel, isn't hypocrisy; it's integrity.  In her latest book Live Your Truth and Other Lies, author and apologist Alisa Childers points out another problem with a feelings-first version of authenticity: I can't love myself if I'm fooling myself about who I actually am. If I deny that there is something wrong with humanity (and thus, myself), the kind of love I will offer myself will be the opposite of authentic. It will be artificial authenticity.  While it is completely out of step to think this, Scripture is clear that “the heart is deceitful above all things.”  Today's worship of authenticity requires that we lie to ourselves about this difficult reality. If we do, however, we will never truly know who we are and how we should live.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Kasey Leander. If you enjoy Breakpoint, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org. 

Rob Cesternino (@robcesternino) and Chappell (@chappells_show) are recapping one episode of SUITS every day until they complete the series. In this podcast, Rob and Chappell recap the Season 2 Episode 5 of Suits. Be sure to go to http://suitspodcast.com to subscribe to the Suits Yourself podcast feed on the platform of your choice! Send your feedback to: http://suitspodcast.com/feedback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast, Rob and Chappell recap the Season 2 Episode 5 of Suits.

On August 19, 1662, French philosopher, mathematician, and apologist Blaise Pascal died at just 39 years old. Pascal, despite his shortened life, is renowned for pioneering work in geometry, physics, and probability theory. His most powerful legacy, however, involves the ways he engaged with life's biggest questions.   Pascal's intellect garnered attention at an early age. At 16, he produced an essay on the geometry of cones so impressive that René Descartes initially refused to believe it could possibly be attributed to a “sixteen-year-old child.” Later, Pascal advanced the study of vacuums in the face of a prevailing (and misplaced) belief that nature is completely filled with matter, and thus “abhors a vacuum.”   In 1654, his work on probability took a new turn when he was sent a brainteaser by a friend. Applying mathematics to the problem, Pascal laid out rows of numbers in a triangle formation, a formation that now bears his name. As author John F. Ross described,   Here was the very idea of probability: establishing the numerical odds of a future event with mathematical precision. Remarkably, no one else had cracked the puzzle of probability before, although the Greeks and Romans had come close.  In 1646, Blaise Pascal encountered the kindness of two Jansenist Christians caring for his injured father. Their love in action earned Pascal's admiration. Then, on the evening of November 23, 1654, Pascal experienced God's presence in a new and personal way, which he described on a scrap of parchment that he sewed into his jacket and carried with him for the rest of his life:   FIRE—God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and scholars. Certitude, certitude. Heartfelt joy, peace. God of Jesus Christ. My God and thy God. Thy God shall be my God.   In his writing, Pascal's notions of probability met his faith in God. A compilation of his collected manuscripts was published after his death in a volume entitled, Pensées, or “Thoughts.” Best known is his famous “wager” that, facing uncertainty and in a game with such high stakes, it makes far more sense for fallen human beings to believe in God's existence than doubt it. “If you gain,” he wrote, “you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation that He is.”  Pascal also offered among the keenest diagnoses of humanity:   The human being is only a reed, the most feeble in nature; but this is a thinking reed. It isn't necessary for the entire universe to arm itself in order to crush him; a whiff of vapor, a taste of water, suffices to kill him. But when the universe crushes him, the human being becomes still more noble than that which kills him, because he knows that he is dying, and the advantage that the universe has over him. The universe, it does not have a clue.  Or, even better:   What a Chimera is man! What a novelty, a monster, a chaos, a contradiction, a prodigy! Judge of all things, an imbecile worm; depository of truth, and sewer of error and doubt; the glory and refuse of the universe.  He also described our moral conditions as human beings,  “[W]e hate truth and those who tell it [to] us, and … we like them to be deceived in our favour” (Pensées 100).  Apart from God, Pascal observed, people distract themselves from the reality of death. But the diversions run out, and then mankind   feels his nothingness, his forlornness, his insufficiency, his dependence, his weakness, his emptiness. There will immediately arise from the depth of his heart weariness, gloom, sadness, fretfulness, vexation, despair. (Pensées 131)  “Between us and heaven or hell there is only life, which is the frailest thing in the world” (Pensées 213 ).  With a poetic nod to his work on vacuums, Pascal concluded:  What is it then that this desire and this inability proclaim to us, but that there was once in man a true happiness of which there now remain to him only the mark and empty trace …? But these are all inadequate, because the infinite abyss can only be filled by an infinite and immutable object, that is to say, only by God Himself.   A generation later, as waves of the Enlightenment swept over Europe, the continent's most prominent thinkers could not escape Pascal's brilliance. According to philosopher Dr. Patrick Riley,  Holbach, as late as the 1770s, still found it necessary to quarrel with the author of the Pensées, Condorcet, when editing Pascal's works, renewed the old debate; Voltaire throughout his life, and even in his last year, launched sally after sally at the writer who frightened him every time he—a hypochondriac—felt ill.   On the human condition in particular, the French Revolution would prove Pascal right and Voltaire wrong. Divorced from God and instead committed to the worship of “pure reason,” France devolved into a violent, anarchic wasteland.  Even today, Blaise Pascal's intellect, passion, and eloquence have lost none of their fire, dedicated as they were to the God who claimed his total devotion. As he wrote on the parchment sewn into his jacket,   Jesus Christ. I have fallen away: I have fled from Him, denied Him, crucified him. May I not fall away forever. We keep hold of him only by the ways taught in the Gospel. Renunciation, total and sweet. Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my director. Eternally in joy for a day's exercise on earth. I will not forget Thy word. Amen.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Kasey Leander. If you enjoy Breakpoint, leave a review on your favorite podcast app. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.